Humanity comes together to build a device so technically advanced that it pushes the limits of what is possible. All to satisfy our primate curiosity. A massive mobilization for a peaceful, noble cause… in a way it is a shrine to the very best in humanity. Its not for war, or greed- just for understanding of the universe and our place in it.

The Webb is not designed for reproduction, of course, but its form all folded up in the launch vehicle is very different from its final configuration when it arrives at its destination and begins its mission.

Its at times like this when I’m really proud to be a member of a species capable of doing this. Its our Parthenon, our Brandenburg Concertos, our Odyssey. This, and other things like this, are the very best we can do, they are what we will be remembered for a thousand years from now.

John Ruskin, in 1851, must have had similar feelings when he contemplated what he felt had been his civilization’s greatest triumph, the Ship of the Line, the big three deckers that dominated European navies for over two centuries:

“For one thing this century will in after ages be considered to have done in a superb manner and one thing I think only. . . it will always be said of us, with unabated reverence,`They built ships of the Line.’ Take it all in all, a ship of the Line is the most honorable thing that man as a gregarious animal has ever produced. By himself, unhelped, he can do better things than ships of the line; he can make poems and pictures, and other such concentrations of what is best in him. But as a being living in flocks, and hammering out, with alternate strokes and mutual agreement, what is necessary for him in those flocks to get or produce the ship of the line is his first work. Into that he has put as much of his human patience, common sense, forethought, experimental philosophy, self control, habits of order and obedience, thoroughly wrought handwork, defiance of brute elements, careless courage, careful patriotism, and calm expectation of the judgement of God, as can well be put into a space of 300 feet long by 80 broad. And I am thankful to have lived in an age when I could see this thing so done”

HMS Victory

http://pirates.missiledine.com/images/ships/ManoWar/King_George.jpg

And there is no chance of a servicing mission if something goes wrong.

Still, I can’t help but admire the sheer balls of this enterprise. The project manager must be the bravest person who has ever lived.

Still, if it works, it will be worth every penny. And even if it doesn’t, it will still be magnificent. I can’t think of a better way to waste 10B$. This is why human beings were placed on this planet.